April News

Dear Parents:

This year, Plummer-Motz is going to have two separate arts nights, one for Grade Four and one for Grade Three. Fourth Grade art will be highlighted on April 9th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Third Grade art will be celebrated on Native American Night, April 16th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (please note that this second date is a change from the school calendar). Unified Arts (art, music, computer and physical education) is continuing to work on integrating the arts and supporting curriculum in an effort to enrich our students’ education. These separate arts nights will include work from the visual and performing arts (music and movement). The computer lab will be open on both nights so children can share their work there, too. Please mark your calendars!

We have many activities sponsored by the PTO this month. On April 1^st, from 7:15-8:30, in the Plummer-Motz gym, we will be having our annual 3^rd grade Math Night, facilitated by 3^rd grade teacher, Vicky Mildrum, and 4^th grade teacher, Paul Rosenblum.

Notices went home with students on Friday, March 21^st. Due to limited space, the maximum number of participants is 50 third graders (no siblings please) with one parent.

Also this month, Antonio Rocha, storyteller, will be performing CrossRoad Tales for Grades 3 and 4 at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3^rd. Fourth graders will enjoy visiting with Maine author, Lea Wait, on Monday, April 14^th.

Speaking of the elementary PTO, teachers enjoyed a delicious staff appreciation luncheon in March during one of our early release days. Thank you to all who brought in food and/or beverages!

Finally, placement proceedings for the 2008-09 school year will begin immediately in May. Placement is taken very seriously and is handled very carefully at our school. Please know that this staff attends to the best interests of all children throughout the proceedings. We also value parent input, so if you would like to share your thoughts in writing about the classroom experience you believe would best meet your child’s academic and social/emotional needs, you may send me an e-mail or letter by Friday, May 2^nd. This letter is OPTIONAL, as your child’s classroom teacher will be overseeing placement efforts. Please remember that teacher requests cannot be honored; of more importance is the creation of balanced groups of learners. We also hold as a priority having each child travel to the next grade level knowing a classmate. Students will learn of their placement for next year on the last day of school, which is now Friday, June 20^th, due to using all five snow days.

Happy Spring!

Sincerely,

Karen Boffa

Dates to Remember:

• April 1 7:15 3^rd Grade Math Night sponsored by the PTO
• April 2 7:00 Building Committee mtg. in H.S. Music rm.
• April 3 2:00 Visiting storyteller Antonio Rocha sponsored by the PTO
• April 7 7:00 School Board Workshop mtg. in H.S. ATM rm.
• April 9 6:30-8:00 4^th Grade Arts Night
• April 10 11:00 All School Assembly

12:00 Early Release

• April 14 Lea Wait, Maine author, visiting with 4^th grade

7:00 School Board mtg. at Town Hall

• April 16 6:00-7:30 3^rd Grade Native American Night
• April 18 No School – Teacher Comp Day
• April 21-25 Spring Break
• Apr. 28-May 2 NWEAs in math will be given to 3^rd and 4^th grade students
• April 29 7:00 4^th Grade Spring Concert at the M.S. gym
• May 5- 9 NWEAs in reading will be given to 3^rd and 4^th grade students